Quiboloy's YouTube channel removed over alleged violation

American video sharing and social media platform YouTube on Wednesday said it has taken down the official channel of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, founder of Philippine-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ, due to alleged violation of community guidelines.

YouTube’s verified account (@TeamYouTube) made the announcement on Twitter in response to a user who questioned the platform for hosting Quiboloy’s channel even if the pastor is already on the wanted list of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over alleged sex trafficking.

“Upon review, we've determined that the channel is in violation of Community Guidelines & (and) has been terminated,” @TeamYouTube tweeted. It did not elaborate.

Prior to the termination, Quiboloy’s channel had over 47,000 subscribers.

A quick YouTube search on "Apollo Quiboloy" channels yielded at least two results, but it is unclear if these were run by or affiliated with Quiboloy.

The two supposed Quiboloy channels still on YouTube, the True Gospel of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, only have 176 and 141 subscribers, respectively.

The sex-trafficking charges against Quiboloy and his fellow KJC church members were filed by US prosecutors in November 2021.

In December 2022, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also sanctioned Quiboloy over alleged serious human rights abuse by blocking his access to all his property and interests in property. The same sanction also provides that all of Quiboloy’s assets in the US must be reported to OFAC.

Sought for comment, Quiboloy’s counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, told GMA News Online in a message, "[N]o comment."

Following his November 2021 indictment, Quiboloy said he already forgave his accusers.

In February 2022, Quiboloy also said that being "persecuted" is one of the hazards of the job since he is the “Appointed Son.”  —KBK, GMA Integrated News